The author of today’s article advises that “when it comes to selecting investments for each part of your portfolio, you can really skinny things down by focusing on investments that provide a lot of diversification in a single shot.” She proceeds to highlight a number of funds that both retirement accumulators and those who are already in retirement could consider…
Stocks? Bonds? Exchange-traded funds? Mutual funds? Annuities? Unit investment trusts? Real estate? Given the wide range of options available when choosing investments for an Individual Retirement Account (today’s article notes you can invest in “almost anything” with an IRA), the critical question is what to select. For some insights on this question, taking into consideration how far you are from…
Half a percentage point. That is what one assessment suggests to expect return-wise from a balanced U.S. stock and bond portfolio over the next 10 years (before fees and taxes!). So what would the effects of an era of “persistently low returns” be on retirement strategizing? Today’s article examines the implications for 401(k)s, annuities, Social Security, medical care, alternative investments…
Given its recent moves, investors have reason to be anxious about the market – and none more so than investors who are at retirement’s doorstep. For those in that group, today’s article outlines a number of strategies to consider, as identified by top financial advisers. First, however, the author advises that “It’s critical that you…draft a retirement-income plan”, noting that…
What could be bad about the trend currently underway towards commission-free trading? A lot – especially for retirees. In fact, the author of today’s article describes zero brokerage commissions as “the latest Siren Song to tempt retirees into dangerous behavior.” So what exactly is the concern? It has to do with the effect that zero commissions have on trading frequency…
Are you trying to play catch up with your retirement savings? Looking to retire early? Whatever position you currently find yourself in relative to retirement, today’s article outlines ten “commandments” that may be worth following in the aim of ultimately achieving a comfortable retirement. For these ten commandments – relating to Social Security, estate plans, taxes, health care, pre-retirement lifestyle…
While there are some general rules of thumb for retirement income-replacement rates (e.g. 75% to 80% of working income), pinning down your individualized retirement cash flow needs can be difficult. As the author of today’s article notes, “higher-income, higher-saving households may well need just 60% (or even less) of their pre-retirement income during retirement, while lower-earning, lower-saving households may need…
When it comes to 401(k)s and IRAs, the author of today’s article argues that “Gambling away your retirement funds in a government-sponsored game of chance is a game you have little hope of winning.” Instead, he asserts that if you want to retire for real (and early), the key is attaining financial freedom – which requires focusing on cash flow…
Today’s article outlines how an initial investment of $300,000 in six specific funds (from “an obscure corner of the market”) can create a significant, reliable income stream for retirement. Specifically, “this portfolio has a 7.9% yield, meaning our $305,000 initial investment is going to give us $24,000 in annual income—that’s $2,000 per month!” Moreover, these six funds offer growth in…
With the stock market of the world’s second-largest economy – China – having dropped by more than 20%, what does this mean for retirees in the U.S., who often hold significant positions in non-U.S. stocks? The author of today’s article notes that such a divergence between the U.S. stock market and a leading foreign market is increasingly rare – and…